Rail-joint structure



July 28, 1925. 1,547,203

J. w. CLARK RAIL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1924 s Sheets-Shut 1 1% z\ 1 five/7755" 'July 2s, 1.925.

1,547,203 Q ,1. w. CLARK RA IL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 iWMMt July 28, 1925. 4

J. w. CLARK RAIL JOINT STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 2. 192 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Ill) Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

r W. "i

JOHN W. CLARK, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

RAIL-JOINT STRUCTURE.

Application filed August ,2, 1924. Serial No. 729,792.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. CLARK; a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and: State of Rhode- Island, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Rail- Joint Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rail j oint structure adapted to provide a support for meetrail ends which is carried by the rails themselves and therefore partakes to a con siderable extent ofthe flexibility inherent in the rails whereby the rail structure is permitted to bend sli htly at the joint as a heavy loadpasses thereover and immediately return toits initial position when the load passes.

It: has been the practice heretofore in the construction of rail joints to rely upon the fish plates for holding the rail ends in position or to place beneath the meeting rail ends a. plate or chair of some form which is firmly supported by the ties or from the roadbed. When the fish plates are relied upon for holding the rail ends in Place,;the great weight of modern trains and locomotives passing thereover places an excessive strain upon the fish plates and causes them to become bent or worn and thus produces. exbessive play oi the rail ends vertically which eventually causes a great degree of vibration as trains pass thereove'r and? may result inthe breakage of the rails or the fish plates at the points where the bolts pass therethrough. W hen a solid plate isplaced beneath the rail ends. and fixedly supported from the ties or. road bed the ends of the rails are driven down against such plate with such force as trains pass thereover that the plate becomes bent or the upper surface worn at which time the plate loses its value and the strain is taken up by the fish plates to the extent that they have capacity to. support it as in the case when no supporting plate or chair is used.

One object of the present invention is to overcome the rigidity naturally inherent in the rail joints. previously employed and provide a structure of this character'wherein the joint is so constructed as to give the same or substantially the same degree of resiliency as that inherent in the rail.- itselfby providing supporting member carried by the rail and not subject tothe disadvantages of such a support when held by the ties.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device of this character wherein the downward force exerted on the supporting plates by the rail ends will be effective to draw the fish plates into closer and bindmg engagement with the rail ends and; further the drawing of the fish plates into. close-r binding engagement with the rail, ends will exert a force tending to press the supporting member into closer engagement with the under surface of the rail ends. 7

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rail joint structure comprising a supporting member carried entirely by the meeting; rail ends whereby a flexible support is provided for the rail ends which permitsv the requisite resiliency ofmovement of the rail; ends while insuringa proper degree of support therefor at all times.

Other objects and advantages ot the inventicn relate tocertain,- improved detailsof construction and methods or operation as'will be: more: fully set forth in the detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1- is a vertical cross-sectional view showin 'jone form of the rail joint,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation-al- View of the structure shown in. Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is. a vertical sectional view of a.- modified form. of the rail joint,'

Fig. 4 is-a, side elevat-ional View oi the structure shown in Fig. 3,

Fig, 5 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form, of railjoint, and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 5, certain of the parts being broken away to more-clearly disclose certain details. In the accompanying drawings: forming a part of the present application Figs. 1 and 2 disclose ODQfOI lD which my improved structure may assume in practice wherein-'1 and 2 designate adjacent rails and 3 and: 4 the ties supporting said rails adjacent to their meeting ends. The rails are each provided with a head portion 5, a web 6 and, a. base 7. A pair of fish plates 8 and 9 are arranged upon opposite sides of the rails at their meeting ends, each plate being provided with a shouldered portion 10 fitting against the inclined lower surface of the rail head 5 and a base portion 11 adapted to fit against theupper surface of the rail base 7. Bolts 12 and 13 are passed through the fish plates and the web of each rail at points adjacent to the extremities of each plate, although these bolts may be dispensed with in practice the remaining portions ofthe joint structure furnishing sufficient support for the rail ends and fish plates to render the use of these bolts unnecessary.

The oint structure comprises, in addition to the fish plates, a supporting member 15 located beneath the meeting ends of the rails and having its upper surface inclined outwardly whereby a raised portion 16 contacts with the central portions of the rail ends as shown in Fig. 1. The supporting member is provided with a downwardly projecting extension 17 and outwardly extending portions 18 and 19 which extend somewhat beyond the side edges of the rail base 7. The outwardly extending portions 18 and 19 are cut away as at 20 and 21 to form ears 22 and 23. Oppositely positioned side members 24 and 25 are located upon opposite sides of the meeting rail ends, recesses 26 being cut or punched from said side members 24 and 25 for the reception of the ears 22 and 23. A suitable bore is formed extending through the ears 22 and side member 24 for the reception of a pivot bar 27 and a similar bore is formed in the ears 23 and side member 25 for the reception of a similar bar 23. In this way the side members 24 and 25 are pivoted to the outwardly extending portions 18 and 19'of the supporting member.

The side member 24 is provided with an upwardly extending curved portion 29 terminating in an inclined rounded tip 30 which fits within an inclined recess 31 formed on one face of the fish plate 8 above the central part thereof. In a similar manner the side member 25 is provided with an upwardly extending curved portion 33 terminating in an inclined rounded tip 34 which fits within an inclined recess 35 formed on one face of the fish plate 9. The side member 24 is provided with an exten sion 38 projecting downwardly therefrom, and inclined inwardly somewhat towards the extension 17, and the side member 25 is provided with a similar extension 39 similarly inclined towards the extension 17. A plurality of bolts 40 are threaded in the extension 38 and adapted to bear against the extension 17, inclined recesses 41 being provided on the side of the extension 17 to provide suitable contacts for the rounded ends of the bolts 4.0 as the extension 38 is moved relative to the extension 17 Similar bolts 42 are threaded in the extension 39 and bear upon inclined recesses 43 similarly formed on the side of the extension 17.

In the present instance three bolts are provided for each of the extensions 38 and 39, but it is to be understood that the number of these bolts may be increased or diminished as desired in practice, and it is believed that one or two bolts for each extension may be found adequate in most instances. Bolts 45 are passed through the upper end of the upwardly extending curved portions 29 and 33 of the side members, the fish plates 8 and 9 and the web portion 6 of the rails, the bolts being so located as to pass through the web portion at a point suitably located intermediate the base and head portions of the rail. The openings 46 formed in the upwardly extending curved portions 29 and 33 for the reception of the bolts 45 are made oblong in a vertical plane to permit a slight downward movement of the upwardly extending portions 29 and 33 as the bolts 40 and 42 are tightened. Nuts 47 are applied to the ends of the bolts 45 whereby the desired degree of tension may be applied to the parts through which the bolts are passed.

Plano-convex washers 48 may be interposed between the bolt head and the upwardly extending portion 29 as well as between the nut 47 and the upwardly extending portion 33 in the case of each bolt in order to permit slight rocking of the side members and at the same time provide a proper bearing for drawing the parts together in all positions of the side members although any other suitable or desired means may be employed for this purpose. These bolts 45 are not regarded as essential under all conditions and may be employed or dispensed with entirely as may be found expedient in practice. The rounded inclined tips 30 and 34 which fit in inclined recesses The construction therefore provides a rail joint structure having a supporting member for supporting the rail ends which is carried entirely by the rails themselves thus forming a joint structure which acts as a unit with the rail and permits a high degree of flexibility while at the same time preventing independent movement of the rail ends. The heavy construction of the mets:- a

joint amply supports the. meeting railends', while the fact that the; same is independent of the ties or road-bed permits the required degree of resiliency of the rail at the joint without the danger of distortion or breaks age.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3' and 4 the rails and fish plates are similar to those shown in Figs. -1 and 2, except that the outer faces 52 of the fish plates are plane and are engagedv .by the plane faces 53 of the upwardly extending portions 54 of: the sidewmember 55. The.

supporting member 56 is formed in this case 5 with a thickened1centralportion 57 and downward extensions 58 Qprojecting downwardly from'points adjacent to the edge of the rail base 7. The supporting member 56 has a raised central portion 60 on its upper facewhich contacts with the central portion of the rail base from which the upper surface inclines downwardly towards-the edges of the rail base. Thesupporting-member extends outwardly beyond the rail base on each side thereof andterminates in cars 61 which fit into' openings 62 formed in theside members 55. 'AL pivot bar 63 is passed through openings suitable formed in the ears 61 and side members 55 whereby the side members 55 are pivotally secured to the opposite sides of the supporting member 56 to pivot about the pivot bar 63. Each of the side members 55 is provided witha down ward extension 64, each, extension being so formed as to be inclined inwardly slightly towards the corresponding downward extension 58 with which it cooperates through the interme-diacy Of-bolts .65 to force the plane faces of the upwardly extending portions 54- of the side members 55 into gripping engagement with the side faces of the fish plates and thereby force the supporting membe 56 into close contact with the base of the meeting rail ends. The downward extensions 58 are provided upon their outer faces with rounded depressions 66 to provide suitable bearing surfaces for the ends of the bolts in all positions of the parts. Bolts 6? are provided for securing the ends of the fish plates together through the rail web and for placing the same under suitable tension, althoughthese bolts may be omitted if uesired in practice and the fish plates placed under sufiicient tension by reason of the force exerted thereonby the upwardly extending portions of the side members alone when the bolts 65 are tightened sufficiently to exertthe necessary pressure on the fish plates. It will be obvious that pressure exerted by side men'ibers 55 on the fish plates will result in drawing the supporting mem ber 56 upwardly into binding engagement with the base portions of the meeting rail; ends thereby providing a support for the meeting. rail ends which is carried entirely ends.

which extends beneaththe edge of thegbase portion 7 of the rail. A supportingmember: 72 underliesthe meeting ends of the rails and is provided on its upper face with a raised portion 73 which bears beneath the central portion of the rail base, and. grooves 74 for the reception of the lugs 71. A

Horizontal extensions 75 ro'ect outwards V ly fromethe supporting member in substantially the same plane therewith for a purpose which will be more. fully described hereinafter, and slots 7 6 are cut in the supporting member for the reception ofiears 'ZTTQarr-ied'by the side members 78. Registering openings are suitably formed in the supporting mem: ber 72 and ears 77 for the reception oftbars 79 for pivotally mounting each side-member on the supporting member and upon oppo-. site sides ofthe meeting rail. ends. the side members 78 is provided with a curved upwardly extending arm 80 provided with a rounded extremity ;81 substantially fitting within a suitable rounded .depression' 82 formed on the outer faceof each of the fish plates 70. The side members 78 are'leach provided with a horizontal extension 83 which projects outwardly and inclinedslightly with respect to one of the. extensions '75, and bolts Stare threaded in, each ofthe extensions 83 for contact with the corresponding extension 7 5 whereby the upwardly ex- Eachfof tending portions of the side members may be.

drawn into tensioned engagement with the fish plates and at the same timethe supporting members may be drawn upwardlyinto. firm contact with the base portions of the rail; ends. The ends of the bolts 84 fit in rounded; depressions 85 formed in one surface of the. extensions 7 5 whereby a suitable bearing will be provided for the bolt ends in all positions of the parts.

Bolts 86 may be passed through the fish plates 70 and the rail: webs adjacent the ends of the fish plates as a further means for clamping the fish plates tothe rails or these bolts may be dispensed with if desired in practice and the clamping action of the side members 78 relied upon to exert suficient tension upon the fish plates for properly clamping them against the sides of the rail As in the previous constructions the number of bolts 84 carried by the extensions for tensioning the parts ofthe oint structure may be increased or diminished as desired and it may well be found that two bolts will be suflicient to serve for tensioning each side member.

In each of the modified forms of the invention a different mode of contact for the upwardly extending portions of the side members with the fish plates is disclosed and it is to be understood that either of these forms of contact may be employed as may be desired and that too in connection with whichever form of supporting member may prove most desirable under varying conditions of use.

The bolts 45 shown in connection with that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings may or may not be used in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and, likewise these bolts may be employed, if desired, in connection with the structures shown in Figs. 3, i, 5 and 6.

The form of fish plates as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may also be employed, if desired, with the rail joint structure as shown in Figs. 1 to a inclusive, and the various structural details as shown in the several modified forms may be employed when practicable with the general joint structure of each of the other forms.

l/Vhile bolts 40 and 42 have been shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as carried by the extensions 38 and 39 and bearing against the extension 17 to tension the elements of the joint, and similar bolts shown in the modified forms of the invention for performing a. similar function, it is to be understood that any other suitable or desired means may be employed for tensioning the structures, such, for ex ample, as suitable wedging means, or other and different arrangements of bolts, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present structure provides a much greater surface for receiving the strain since heretofore the strain has been entirely taken up by that portion of the fish plates bearing against the lower surface of the rail head and the upper surface of the rail base. The present construction provides, in addition to these bearing surfaces bearings beneath the central portions of the rail ends as shown, which bearings are moreover capable of adjustment into forced concontact with the rail ends. These bearing surfaces are moreover supported by the rails themselves thus permitting movement with the bending of the rails under the strain of passing trains. The support beneath the meeting rail ends is also in the direct line of the strain taken by the rails, while that taken up by the fish plates is always received at an angle.

It is also within the purview of the present invention to dispense with the fish plates under conditions where this may be practicable and so construct the upwardly extending portions of the side members that they will properly fit the sides of the rail ends and bear directly thereagainst. In which case bolts may be passed through the upwardly extending portions of the side members and the rail web after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings to add strength to the structure and assist in tensioning the same.

What I claim is 1. In a rail joint structure for clamping meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, a pair of side members hinged to said supporting member and each provided with a portion extending upwardly into proximity with the rails, and means cooperating with said side members and said supporting member for forcing said side members towards the rails and at the same time drawing said supporting memher into closer contact with the under surfaces of said rail ends. i

2. In a rail joint structure for meeting rail ends comprising plates positioned on opposite sides of said rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, a pair of side members each pivotally secured tosaid supporting member and having a portion extending upwardly into contact with one of said plates, and means for forcing said side members into close contact with said plates and thereby drawing said supporting member upwardly against the under surfaces of said rail ends.

3. In a rail joint structure, a supporting member underlying a. pair of meeting rail ends, side members extending upwardly from said supporting member on opposite sides of said rail ends, and means interengagin portions of said side members and said supporting member for positively drawing said supporting member upwardly and forcing the same into close engagement with the under surface of said rail ends adjacent to the longitudinal centers of the rails whereby the said rail ends are flexibly sup ported from the rails themselves.

4. In a rail joint structure. fish plates overlying the sides of meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, and means comprising members pivotally connected to said supporting member and engaging said fish plates for forcing said fish plates into gripping engagement with said rail ends and simultaneously positively drawing said supporting memher into close engagement with the longitudinal centers of said meeting rail ends to support the same.

5. In a rail joint structure, fish plates overlying the sides of meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, side members carried by said sup porting member and having portions engaging said fish plates on opposite sides of said rail ends, said supporting member and side members being provided with extensions, and means engaging the said extensions to force the portions of said side members engaging the fish plates into binding contact therewith whereby the fish plates are drawn into clamping engagement with said rail ends.

6. In a rail joint structure, fish plates overlying the sides of meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, side members carried by said supporting member and having portions engaging said fish plates on opposite sides of said rail ends, said supporting member and side member being provided with ex tensions, and means engaging the said extensions to force the portions of said side members engagii'ig the fish plates into contact therewith whereby the supporting member is drawn into binding engagement with the under surfaces of said railends.

7-.In a railjoint structure the combination with the meeting ends of a pair of rails, of plates overlying the meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, meansengaging the said plates on opposite sides of said rail ends, and means for placing said last named means under tension to positively draw said supporting member against the longitudinal centers of said rail endsand thereby provide a. support for said rail ends suspended from the rails themselves whereby the jointed portion of said rails possesses su stantially the same functions as the solid portion of said rails.

8. In a rail joint structure fish plates overlying the sides of meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying the meeting rail ends, side members pivotally supported by said supporting member upon opposite sides of said meeting rail ends, extensions projecting from said supporting member and each of said side members and means carried by the extensions on said side members for engaging the extensions on said supporting member whereby said side members may be moved about their pivot points to force portions thereof into gripping engagement with said fish plates.

9. In a rail joint structure the combination with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member therefor carried entirely by the rail ends, side members hingedly connected to said supporting member, and means coact= ing between portions of said side members and said supportingmember whereby said supporting member may be drawn into tensioned engagement with the under surfaces of said meeting rail ends.

10. In a rail joint structure, fish plates overlying the meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said meeting rail ends, side members pivotally secured to said supporting member and provided with upwardly extending portions having inclined rounded ends contacting with said fish plates on opposite sides'of said rail ends, means extending through said upwardly extending port-ions, rails and fish plates for drawing the same together, extensions carried by said supporting member and side members, and tensioning means cooperating with the extensions carried by said supporting member and side members whereby the rounded upwardly extending portions of said side members may be forced into close contact with the sides of said fish plates.

11. Ina rail joint structure, the combination with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member underlying said meeting rail-ends, sidemembers pivotally secured to said supporting member and provided with upwardly extending portions positioned upon opposite sides of said rail ends, extensions carried by said supporting member and said side members, and means cooperating with said extensions for drawing the upwardly extending portions of said side members towards said rail ends and at the same'time forcing said supporting member upwardly against the lower face-of said rail ends.

12. In a rail joint structure, the'combina-. tion with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member underlying said rail ends, sidemembers pivotally secured 'to'said supporting member andprovided with upwardly extending portions positioned upon opposite sides of said rail ends, b'o'lts' extending through the upwardly extending portions of said side members and said meeting rail ends, and means cooperating with portions of said side members and said supporting member for tensioning the elements of the joint structure whereby pressure is exerted upon opposite sides of the rail ends and the supporting member is forced into close engagement with the under surface of said rail ends. 1

13. In a rail joint structure, the combination with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member underlying said meeting rail ends, side members hingedly connected to said supporting member and having portions extending upwardly upon opposite sides of said rail ends, bolts passed through the upwardly extending portions of said side members and said rail ends, and means independent of said bolts for drawing the said supporting member upwardly into close engagement with the base portion of the rail ends.

14:. In a rail joint structure, fish plates overlying the meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said meeting rail ends, side members pivotally secured to said supporting member and provided with upwardly extending portions contacting with said fish plates, and bolts passed through the upwardly extending portions of said side members, fish plates and rails for drawing the said elements together and at the same time forcing the supporting member upwardly into close engagement with the base portions of the rail ends.

15. I11 a rail joint structure for connecting meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, a pair of side members pivoted to said supporting member and each provided with a portion extending upwardly from the points of pivotal connection of said side members with said supporting member and into proximity with said rail ends, and means located upon the opposite sides of said pivots from the upstanding portions of said side members for drawing the said supporting member upwardly into tensioned engagement with the under surfaces of said rail ends.

16. In a rail joint structure for connect ingmeeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rails, a pair of side members pivoted to said supporting member and each provided with a portion extending upwardly from the points of pivotal connection of said side members with said supporting member and into proximity with said rail ends, and means located on the opposite sides of said pivots from the upstanding portions of said side members for forcing the upwardly extending portions of said side members towards the rails.

17. In a rail joint structure for connect-- ing meeting rail ends, a supporting member underlying said rail ends, a pair of side members pivoted to said supporting member and each provided with a portion extending upwardly and into proximity with the webs of the rails, and means carried by said side members and engaging portions of said supporting member for forcing the upwardly extending portions of said side members towards the rails and at the same time drawing said supporting member into closer contact with the under surfaces of said rail ends.

18. In a rail joint structure, the combination with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member underlying said meeting rail ends, side members hingedly connected to said supporting member, and means coacting between said side members and said supporting member for drawing the said supporting member upwardly into tensioned engagement with the under surfaces of said rail ends.

19. In a rail joint structure, the combination with meeting rail ends, of a supporting member underlying said meeting rail ends, side members hingedly connected to said supporting member and having portions ex tending upwardly upon opposite sides of said rail ends, and means coacting between said side members and said supporting member for forcing the upwardly extending portions of said side members into close engagement with opposite sides of said rail ends.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

JOHN w. CLARK. 

